It helps that Trump popped the “He kept us safe” balloon that had been party orthodoxy for so long. Give The Donald credit for that much.
Jeb was a terrible campaigner. I don’t think his last name did him any harm. We were all expecting “the smart one”, but that guy never appeared. What we got was the mumbling, unsure-of-himself guy who let Trump walk all over him to the point of having to asking mommy to come in and save him.
“Pop” the balloon? Did they stop saying it, stop thinking it? Don’t think so, haven’t seen or heard any such evidence. Think what happens is a Trump supporter had, by now, heard him say at least one other thing that totally repels him/her, then congratulates themselves on being so open-minded.
If he had got the nomination his last name would have done him a lot of harm in the general. And his vacillation back and forth on if the Iraq invasion was a good idea or not was cringe worthy to watch. Primary voters do make decisions based on electability in the general so I think its incredibly naive to say his family name didn’t harm him.
I never much liked Jeb, but I remained convinced for a long time that he’d win, because the Establishment’s candidates usually do.
But this is a strange season.
Jeb never offered anyone much of a reason to vote for him beyond, “It’s my turn, Damn it.” Which is also the only reason Hillary ever offers.
Hillary did make that mistake in 2008, but she clearly learned from it (and also has 4 years of Secretary of State experience to tout now). Jeb clearly didn’t learn from her mistakes, though. Walking in expecting a coronation isn’t a good strategy, especially in a year like this when so many people are looking for “outsiders.”
Will Jeb pull a Hillary and be back in a future primary, older and wiser? I don’t think so. Obama more or less eked out a victory against Hillary in 2008, but Jeb was clobbered. Plus, he’s not half the natural politician that Hillary is. And just imagine him serving in Rubio or Trump’s cabinet, if you want a laugh.
Say good night, Jeb.
It makes me really wonder how his gubernatorial campaigns went.
He seems never to have had an obstacle in his life, you know, those things that build character, and personality.
I would love to have been able to put down a line and short bush. I guess it’s possible in Las Vegas. If I had been from Florida I’d like to think I’d have known to put $10,000 on it.
I Imagine he’s not that unhappy about it. I get the idea he was pushed to run by the GOP establishment and really didn’t want the job. He’s still worth $22 million and probably can look forward to many years of lucrative positions on boards of directors and consultancy fees.
I wonder what Romney’s thoughts are right now. “Dodged a huge bullet” or “I might have had a shot vs all these clowns”?
Or maybe Romney’s thinking “Hmm, deadlocked convention coming up …”
I figure you’re joking but nothing I’ve seen says someone not on the ballot can get the nomination and when people suggested it was possible in another thread no one replied when I questioned it.
If a candidate is not decided on the first ballot, delegates may vote for whomever they wish. I would expect the nomination to still be won by one of the people running, but there’s certainly no reason they couldn’t select a compromise candidate. Romney, for instance. Or McCain. Or Palin.
The momentum for the Draft Romney! movement is building! Told ya so!
I think they can vote “for whomever they wish” from the established candidates. They couldn’t just nominate Oprah because she’s awesome. You’re saying write ins are valid? I am hoping for a cite or a case in history.
There is no restriction - they can nominate someone who didn’t run, like the Democrats did in 1924 when neither the pro- not anti-Prohibition factions would capitulate.
Such a candidate would have to be nominated from the floor, but there is nothing in the rules stopping that. Since the rise of primaries in selecting the candidate, conventions have changed from a deciding body to acclamation. Before that, U.S. history is replete with party conventions selecting someone other than the front-runner, or insider candidate. Polk (1844) was one; Davis (1924 - 103 ballots!) was another.
You do have to go way back, but that’s simply because of the change in the way candidates are selected. Primaries have caused every candidate in the last 64 years to be selected on the first ballot.
The spread of primaries since 1968 has also meant the end of credentials fights and favorite son candidates, the end of any significance to platform committees, and almost even the end of the Schmuck-Filled Room (“The Room Where It Happens”, as the *Hamilton *song goes). It might be entertaining to have a convention again that isn’t just a pep rally.
I really thought he’d hold out until the Florida primary. Guess I was wrong about that.
Maybe it’s just me, but that was the least of his problems. He really did appear to be campaigning on the assumption he was the only logical choice and as soon as Trump showed up and accused him of that, the public wasn’t going to be convinced otherwise.
Had he lasted long enough, I’d probably have voted for him, but my enthusiasm level is pretty low for any of the candidates this year.
Maybe that’s a strategic move to help Rubio get some extra votes on his home turf?
Alternatively, at least it would avoid the risk of an embarrassing outcome, like Trump or Cruz beating him in Florida.